Written on May 20, 2009....16.85 miles (2 miles wandering for a room in Pamplona).
Last night we found two of the only beds left in Zubiri. The municipal hostel was full. They opened a gym and put foam pads on the floor. We slept great! Today we saw new friends all day...Monica and Sonia from Germany, Gila and Pascal from Paris, Gonzalo and William from Madrid. Everytime we see each other we cheer because of the progress we are all making. Every break today turned into a party.
We´re pretty sure that Bob and Kathy are moving ahead at a pretty good pace. We might see them down the road if they stay somewhere for 2 nights.
We walked through many beautiful villages. Our favorite was Trinidad de Arre...great park, great bathroom and espresso. We walked along the River Arga and over it on bridges in several places. It was getting hot and we were ready to get to Pamplona where the bulls run in July.
Soothing my soul today were the most beautiful butterflies...white wings, black bodies...yellow wings, green bodies, and many others.
We walked through the suburbs of Pamplona. Today we saw Andy from Czech. We had seen him at Refugio Orisson. Andy walks until he´s tired and then hangs his hammock and sleeps until he wakes up.
Finally after some walking we found a beautiful Pension in Pamplona...a very ancient building. There are many rooms in the Pension with a shared bath. We´ll take a shower, wash our clothes and find a place to eat. We´re so glad to find such a cozy place.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Burguete, Spain to Zubiri, Spain
Written on May 19, 2009....14 miles.
Today we walked through pastures, medieval villages and right past the biggest bull I have ever seen. Once again we saw several of the pilgrims who we had seen at St. Jean Pied de Port and Refugio Orisson.
Today I noticed that a beautiful yellow flower growing in the middle of a stream provided the same warmth as a smiling face. Today we were mainly sustained by chocolate, bread, jamon and cheese.
As I write this we are laying on a mattress with our sleeping bags in a large gym with about 20 other pilgrims. The cost for this hostel is 4euros per person, (about $5.20).
We saw Bob as soon as we entered the village of Zubiri. They are staying in a pension. They need 3 keys to enter their room...very private.
Bob and Kathy have a good pace. They don´t have any problem getting to a village and finding the lodging of their choice.
I have a very slow pace. I have tried to persuade Vern to go ahead and get us 2 beds but he insists on staying close by....he is a keeper!
Today we walked through pastures, medieval villages and right past the biggest bull I have ever seen. Once again we saw several of the pilgrims who we had seen at St. Jean Pied de Port and Refugio Orisson.
Today I noticed that a beautiful yellow flower growing in the middle of a stream provided the same warmth as a smiling face. Today we were mainly sustained by chocolate, bread, jamon and cheese.
As I write this we are laying on a mattress with our sleeping bags in a large gym with about 20 other pilgrims. The cost for this hostel is 4euros per person, (about $5.20).
We saw Bob as soon as we entered the village of Zubiri. They are staying in a pension. They need 3 keys to enter their room...very private.
Bob and Kathy have a good pace. They don´t have any problem getting to a village and finding the lodging of their choice.
I have a very slow pace. I have tried to persuade Vern to go ahead and get us 2 beds but he insists on staying close by....he is a keeper!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Refugio Orisson, France to Burguete, Spain
Written on Monday, May 18, 2009 13.24 miles
This morning we woke to a breakfast of coffee or tea (our choice) in bowls, french bread, butter and jam. We picked up 2 sandwiches we had ordered...jamon and fromage.
Today´s climb was about 6 hours. We walked through ground fog and mist. I could hear the bells on the sheep, but could not see them. Two pilgrims on horses rode by, then pilgrims on bicycles. All day we saw fellow pilgrims that we had stayed with at St. Jean and Orisson.
There´s something about seeing a familiar kind face that helps move me up the moutain. A woman from France said it best....Many of us don´t understand the language of the other, but we´re united with the same spirit.
Once we reached Col de Lepoder at 4757 feet we started going down a steep rock, dirt, mud path. Yesterday we started just above sea level.
Once we reached Ronscavalles Bob and Kathy were already there. They had checked out the hostels there and decided that Burguete would be a better place to stay.
Bob and I volunteered to the task of using an international phone card and calling a private hostel in Burguete...we did it. I asked the lady in Spanish if she had room for 4 persons. It ended up being a hostel that has a piano that Ernest Hemingway autographed.....or so it was told. I saw the piano, but not the autograph....didn´t look that hard.
Yesterday when I was putting on my backpack Bob had tried to help me....I backed up so that I could do it myself. My thinking was....I need to know how to do this without anyone around. Today as I was putting my pack on after a break a lady came behind and helped me.....today I learned to graciously accept help.
One of the first gifts of the Camino.
This morning we woke to a breakfast of coffee or tea (our choice) in bowls, french bread, butter and jam. We picked up 2 sandwiches we had ordered...jamon and fromage.
Today´s climb was about 6 hours. We walked through ground fog and mist. I could hear the bells on the sheep, but could not see them. Two pilgrims on horses rode by, then pilgrims on bicycles. All day we saw fellow pilgrims that we had stayed with at St. Jean and Orisson.
There´s something about seeing a familiar kind face that helps move me up the moutain. A woman from France said it best....Many of us don´t understand the language of the other, but we´re united with the same spirit.
Once we reached Col de Lepoder at 4757 feet we started going down a steep rock, dirt, mud path. Yesterday we started just above sea level.
Once we reached Ronscavalles Bob and Kathy were already there. They had checked out the hostels there and decided that Burguete would be a better place to stay.
Bob and I volunteered to the task of using an international phone card and calling a private hostel in Burguete...we did it. I asked the lady in Spanish if she had room for 4 persons. It ended up being a hostel that has a piano that Ernest Hemingway autographed.....or so it was told. I saw the piano, but not the autograph....didn´t look that hard.
Yesterday when I was putting on my backpack Bob had tried to help me....I backed up so that I could do it myself. My thinking was....I need to know how to do this without anyone around. Today as I was putting my pack on after a break a lady came behind and helped me.....today I learned to graciously accept help.
One of the first gifts of the Camino.
St. Jean Pied de Port, France to Refugio Orisson, France
Written on Sunday, May 17, 2009.
This morning after breakfast Vern and I, Bob and Kathy started our Camino. We left the hostel and walked left down a cobblestone street through a stone archway passing through the old town. At one time this part of town was a citadel. Once over the moat we started our long climb through the Pyrenees. Beautiful green, rolling hills and rock mountains dotted with sheep and cattle. Horses were walking on the road. After 3 1-2 hours and 4 to 4 1-2 miles of steep incline we came to our next and final reserved hostel, Refugio Orisson. Refugio Orisson is a beautiful hostel which is expanding anually to accomodate the growing number of pilgrims. We had a room with 4 beds and a private bathroom with a beautiful view of 3 mountain ranges, granite peaks, white farm houses with red roofs. Tomorrow we continue the steep incline for 11 miles to Ronscavelles.
Today we saw Susan and her friend a few other people that we have met in SJPDP.
This morning after breakfast Vern and I, Bob and Kathy started our Camino. We left the hostel and walked left down a cobblestone street through a stone archway passing through the old town. At one time this part of town was a citadel. Once over the moat we started our long climb through the Pyrenees. Beautiful green, rolling hills and rock mountains dotted with sheep and cattle. Horses were walking on the road. After 3 1-2 hours and 4 to 4 1-2 miles of steep incline we came to our next and final reserved hostel, Refugio Orisson. Refugio Orisson is a beautiful hostel which is expanding anually to accomodate the growing number of pilgrims. We had a room with 4 beds and a private bathroom with a beautiful view of 3 mountain ranges, granite peaks, white farm houses with red roofs. Tomorrow we continue the steep incline for 11 miles to Ronscavelles.
Today we saw Susan and her friend a few other people that we have met in SJPDP.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Have Arrived in St Jean Pied de Port
L Esprit du Chemin
Vern and I arrived here yesterday. Bob and Kathy have just arrived here today. Yesterday Vern and I went across the street to the Pilgrims office to receive our Pilgrims passport: Today we went back to receive our shell to put on our backpacks. The shell is very much a symbol of the Pilgrim, representing the journey. As we ate dinner last night a fellow pilgrim, Susan, and I shared a moment of profound gratitude. Grateful for the wonderful hostel, the homade soup and the knowing that after the research plans and preparation we are here. Here in SJPDP the gateway to the way of St. Francis. Tomorrow we begin our Camino adventure.
I want to add a note that the months leading up to this moment contained personal markers that I had chosen a path that was being validated by a Power greater than myself. One such marker was: during one of my hikes in Gasquet with a friend there were 3 clamshells on a rock at the beginning of one of the swithbacks. Another marker was when we went to our tax preparer and started to mention the Camino....he moved a large clamshell from one end of his desk to another. I said Wow you have a clamshell....by the look in his eyes I could tell that he did not know what the connection was. time and time again there would be subtle signs and profound signs....I recognized them all.
Please know that there are several differences to this keyboard in France.....Im doing my best. Also anyone with a blackbery, please forgive me for the wierd times you might receive a message....there is an 8 hour difference.
Vern and I arrived here yesterday. Bob and Kathy have just arrived here today. Yesterday Vern and I went across the street to the Pilgrims office to receive our Pilgrims passport: Today we went back to receive our shell to put on our backpacks. The shell is very much a symbol of the Pilgrim, representing the journey. As we ate dinner last night a fellow pilgrim, Susan, and I shared a moment of profound gratitude. Grateful for the wonderful hostel, the homade soup and the knowing that after the research plans and preparation we are here. Here in SJPDP the gateway to the way of St. Francis. Tomorrow we begin our Camino adventure.
I want to add a note that the months leading up to this moment contained personal markers that I had chosen a path that was being validated by a Power greater than myself. One such marker was: during one of my hikes in Gasquet with a friend there were 3 clamshells on a rock at the beginning of one of the swithbacks. Another marker was when we went to our tax preparer and started to mention the Camino....he moved a large clamshell from one end of his desk to another. I said Wow you have a clamshell....by the look in his eyes I could tell that he did not know what the connection was. time and time again there would be subtle signs and profound signs....I recognized them all.
Please know that there are several differences to this keyboard in France.....Im doing my best. Also anyone with a blackbery, please forgive me for the wierd times you might receive a message....there is an 8 hour difference.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Decision Made, Adventure Begins
My friend, Kathy, was researching and learning about the Camino while I was doing the same.While in Texas we emailed info to each other that we were discovering. We had some discussions about walking the Camino together.
When I returned home I told my husband, Vern and our friends Bruce and Susie what I knew I needed to do. I did not have any expectations of what their reaction would be. Soon Vern told me that he would like to walk the 550 miles from St. Jean Pied-de-Port, France to Santiago, Spain via Finisterre.
Meanwhile Kathy and her husband, Bob were having discussions about the Camino and both decided to walk.
At the moment of decision each person began their "Camino".
Soon to be Camino Pilgrims..Nancy & Vern, Bob & Kathy
Since last summer the Camino de Santiago has been a "carrot" for all of us.A goal that has made us take a look at priorities and what we needed to do to get there. A couple of us have had major health/surgery experiences as a part of our path. All of us have moved toward the Camino in our own unique way.
Today Vern and I leave our home to make our way to San Francisco. Tomorrow we will fly to Paris and take a train to Bordeaux. We will all meet in Bordeaux.
On Friday, May 15th, we will take a train to St. Jean Pied-de-Port, France.
On May 17th we will start hiking the Pyrenees.
As we walk the Camino as millions of others have done since the 7th century we will take with us the love, prayers, and thoughts of our friends, family, and fellow "bloggers".
Buen Camino!
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